The Supreme Court

  The Supreme Court is one of the most interesting pieces of the federal American government to study. They are arguably the most powerful of any section/subsection of the American government, as they ultimately get the final say in any law that congress passes or any executive action which the President takes. Though there has been much discussion about expanding the court to a 13 justice system, it at this point still remains a nine justice court. This means that it is up to nine justices to make the most important decisions in the United States. It is up to these nine esteemed individuals to determine the powers afforded to the individual, state, and federal government through the lens of the constitution. 

The Supreme Court was not always so powerful, as they were not nearly as influential before the Marbury vs Madison case. This occurred in 1803 and was the first case that established that the federal court had the power to overrule the other branches of government. In the videos released on the History Channel, I was fascinated to hear about the process which goes into Supreme Court cases. 

For one, the sheer volume of cases which are presented to the court is overwhelming, at over 7000 a year. The majority of these are certiorari cases, meaning they are appeals of the ruling of a lower court. The Supreme Court accepts few of these cases, but they are careful to clarify that this does not mean they agree with the lower court’s ruling. As the top of the judiciary branch in the United States government, one of their jobs is to make sure that they are hearing and trying only the most important and impactful cases presented to them.   

One of my favorite things to watch and learn about in the video was the respect which the justices have for each other. It is no secret that the judges have different political points of view, and it is to be expected that they interpret the constitution slightly differently. However, despite these facts, it is a beacon of hope in the politically polarized climate that exists in America today to see members near the top of the federal government put their differences aside and work together for the greater good. I learned from the video that one of the first things which the nine justices do before their conference is shake hands with eachother. This gesture may seem small, however I believe it is an important gesture of good faith. This action signifies that no matter where they stand about a case, they trust that each other has good intentions, and that they all share the same objective ultimately; to make the choice that is right for the United States of America.  

Overall, I believe that America could learn a thing or two from the Supreme Court. It is a shining example of people from all sorts of different backgrounds who share different beliefs working together towards a common goal. It is becoming increasingly apparent in America today that this is a skill which most citizens and politicians alike lack.